French drain and yard drainage in Winston-Salem: local operators and what it costs

Private drainage is the owner's

The City of Winston-Salem says drainage projects on private property are the property owner's responsibility, and its cost-share program for private drainage is on hold. The city maintains drainage in the right-of-way. That leaves the design, the outlet and any effect on neighbors with you. The city's rules on sending water toward the street or a neighboring lot were not confirmed for this page, so check with the city before choosing an outlet at the curb or near a property line.

Clay that holds water

Piedmont soils such as the Cecil series have a firm red clay subsoil that takes in water slowly, and NC State Extension notes that clay compacts when wet. A French drain in that ground needs washed stone, fabric to keep clay from clogging it, and a steady fall to a free outlet. On a slope, a drain across the hill above the wet area often helps more than one at the bottom.

Timing

Winston-Salem's wettest months are usually July and August and its driest is February. A drain can be dug in a dry spell any season, but seeing the yard in a summer downpour shows exactly where the water runs.

NC 811 and private lines

NC 811 needs no less than three full working days of notice, and an owner's exemption does not cover machine digging that encroaches on a utility easement. Irrigation lines and other private pipes are not marked by NC 811, and they often run through the same wet ground, so find them first.

Disturbed area

A typical backyard drain disturbs far less than the twenty thousand square feet at which the city and county require an erosion control plan for a single-family lot, but a large regrading project should be measured.

For your project post

Describe where water stands and where it comes from, the slope, possible outlets, the rough length of drain, whether downspouts tie in, and any private lines in the area.